Universität Wien

060091 VO Introduction to Archaeoastronomy (2017S)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 6 - Ägyptologie, Judaistik, Urgeschichte und Historische Archäologie

Grundkenntnisse in Vermessung sollten vorliegen.

Details

Language: German

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 02.05. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Thursday 04.05. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Tuesday 09.05. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Thursday 11.05. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Tuesday 16.05. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Thursday 18.05. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Tuesday 23.05. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Tuesday 30.05. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Thursday 01.06. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Thursday 08.06. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Tuesday 13.06. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Tuesday 20.06. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Thursday 22.06. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Tuesday 27.06. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG
  • Thursday 29.06. 16:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 13 Franz-Klein-Gasse 1 4.OG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Archaeoastronomy is concerned with the role of astronomical phenomena in earlier human cultures. An important part of the subject deals with orientation of axes of monumental or other human constructions in relation to astronomical phenomena like solar rising or setting events at certain dates like solstices. A. is a strongly interdisciplinary science, requiring combination of skills from archaeology, ethnology, astronomy and geodesy (surveying).
Recent developments include "skyscape archaeology" (landscape archaeology which includes celestial phenomena linked to the landscape) and virtual 3D models (virtual archaeology) for a better understanding of the original situation.
Topics: History of archaeoastronomy; introduction to astronomical phenomenology; use of an (open source) desktop planetarium; surveying for archaeoastronomy; Case studies: the Nebra sky disk; project ASTROSIM about Middle Neolithic Circular Ditch Systems of Lower Austria; computer based models for skyscape archaeology.

Assessment and permitted materials

Einzelprüfung (mündlich) oder Ausarbeitung eines selbst erstellten praktischen Beispiels im Computerplanetarium.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Examination topics

Reading list

Giulio Magli: Archaeoastronomy: Introduction to the Science of Stars and Stones. Springer Undergraduate Lecture Notes in Physics (2016).
Clive Ruggles (ed.): Springer Handbook for Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy (2015).
Stellarium User Guide (Stellarium.org, 2016).
Wolfhard Schlosser & Jan Cierny: Sterne und Steine (Wiss. Buchgesellsch. Darmstadt 1996).
Peter Melichar & Wolfgang Neubauer (Hg.): Mittelneolithische Kreisgrabenanlagen in Niederösterreich (2010).
Harald Meller (Hg.): Der geschmiedete Himmel (2004).

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Th 21.03.2024 00:10